The United States is advancing plans to send 500-pound bombs to Israel, following a pause over concerns about the potential use of 2,000-pound munitions in populated areas, according to a US official. The shipment was halted in early May when Israel appeared to be on the brink of a major ground operation in Rafah, southern Gaza, which the US government strongly opposed.Israel later launched a more limited incursion.
“We’ve been clear that our concern has been on the end-use of the 2,000-pound bombs, particularly in advance of Israel’s Rafah campaign which they have announced they are concluding,” said the US official, speaking anonymously.
Due to the way shipments are organized, different munitions are sometimes combined, the official explained. “Because our concern was not about the 500-pound bombs, those are moving forward as part of the usual process.”
Last month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused President Joe Biden’s administration of slowing down weapons deliveries to Israel amid the ongoing Gaza conflict, sparked by the October 7 Hamas attack. US officials denied the allegations, noting that only the single bomb shipment was affected.
During a news conference on Thursday, President Biden confirmed that the 2,000-pound bombs would not be sent to Israel. “I’m not providing the 2,000-pound bombs. They cannot be used in Gaza or any populated area without causing great human tragedy and damage,” he said.
The United States remains Israel’s primary military supporter but has expressed frustration over the increasing civilian death toll in Gaza. Since the October 7 attack, which resulted in the deaths of 1,195 people, mostly civilians, Israel has conducted extensive operations against Hamas, leading to at least 38,345 deaths, also predominantly civilians, according to Gaza health ministry data. The militants have also taken hostages, with 116 still in Gaza, including 42 presumed dead.
“We’ve been clear that our concern has been on the end-use of the 2,000-pound bombs, particularly in advance of Israel’s Rafah campaign which they have announced they are concluding,” said the US official, speaking anonymously.
Due to the way shipments are organized, different munitions are sometimes combined, the official explained. “Because our concern was not about the 500-pound bombs, those are moving forward as part of the usual process.”
Last month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused President Joe Biden’s administration of slowing down weapons deliveries to Israel amid the ongoing Gaza conflict, sparked by the October 7 Hamas attack. US officials denied the allegations, noting that only the single bomb shipment was affected.
During a news conference on Thursday, President Biden confirmed that the 2,000-pound bombs would not be sent to Israel. “I’m not providing the 2,000-pound bombs. They cannot be used in Gaza or any populated area without causing great human tragedy and damage,” he said.
The United States remains Israel’s primary military supporter but has expressed frustration over the increasing civilian death toll in Gaza. Since the October 7 attack, which resulted in the deaths of 1,195 people, mostly civilians, Israel has conducted extensive operations against Hamas, leading to at least 38,345 deaths, also predominantly civilians, according to Gaza health ministry data. The militants have also taken hostages, with 116 still in Gaza, including 42 presumed dead.